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Divine Intervention

One of my daily guilty pleasures is viewing home makeover programs that transform bland passé interiors into contemporary, or traditional but sophisticated, masterpieces. My particular vice is back to back episodes of Divine Design and Candice Tells All, as featured on the Style and LifeStyle Home channels respectively. The creative force behind both programs is host, interior designer and decorator extraordinaire, Candice Olson.

Image Source: hgtv.com

Olson is the Fairy Godmother for home makeovers. Along with her colourful sidekicks of contractors, electricians, builders, painters and stylists, Olson weaves her magic on the most undesirable rooms and ‘delivers awe-inspiring design transformations’. Your home is her canvas, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, attics or basements; no job is too great or too small, but like most renovations, Olson’s main constraints are time and budget.

Image Source: hgtv.com

In each episode, Candice takes you on a journey in ‘solving her clientele’s interior design and décor dilemmas’. Her aesthetically challenged clients relinquish all artistic control to Olson’s infinite creativity and vision. Each project begins with structural and layout sketches and then proceeds with Olson exploring paint colours; assessing tile, carpet, floor and cabinetry samples; selecting appliances as well as fabric swatches (where patterns and textures are often used as jumping off points for the overall design concept). The following stage generally involves Candice embarking on shopping expeditions for furniture, accent pieces and accessories, at which point I start to salivate.

Image Source: hgtv.com

Throughout the process, Candice manages to entertain her team and viewers alike with her endearing charm, positive energy and self deprecating sense of humour, as you witness the highs and lows of interior renovation. What transpires is a radical home facelift and concludes with before and after shots of the final design transformation. Olson’s signature look is combining functionality with a timeless elegance, mixed with a luxurious, sumptuous theme that reflects the owner’s personality and practical needs. The end result elicits an array of reactions from clients ranging from amazement, elation to ‘occasional tears of joy’.

Image Source: hgtv.com

Behind the scenes, Candice is a savvy business woman. In addition to her uber-popular TV shows, and a widely syndicated newspaper column, Olson also set up her own residential and commercial design practice, Candice Olson Design. Furthermore, she designs a swath of home products under the umbrella of the Candice Olson Collection and is the author of several books in which she shares design secrets and offers up smart tips and practical advice to help readers plan and execute successful room makeovers.

With each new series of Divine Design or Candice Tells All, my home décor ‘to do’ list expands with new terms such as ikat, paisleys, damask, wainscoting, chair rails, cornices, trims, sectionals, focal points etc – enough to make my better half shake his head side to side and roll his eyes in despair at my futile attempts at being anointed the Queen of Renovations. One can only hope and dream of a little Divine Intervention at jazzing up the humble abode from Candice herself, with her unique touch of style and creative magic.